The Meaning Of Tony's Dreams About Buddhist Monks?

What do you think the meaning is of the dreams that Tony has while he is in the coma after being shot by Junior? (Tony accidentally picks up Kevin Finnerty's briefcase and Buddhist monks believe he is indeed Kevin Finnerty - the monks want him to make amends for selling them a bad air conditioner) My opinion on this is below.


I think the dream is essentially Tony's own conscience or mind, telling him that he has to take responsibility for his crimes. In the dream Tony finds Finnerty's briefcase and takes on Finnerty's identity to stay at the hotel. This represents a crises of identity, as Tony denies and questions his true identity. The monks then become angry at Tony for selling them a faulty air conditioner. Tony denies that he is even Finnerty and denies that he is responsible for the air conditioner. In his dream, as in life, Tony never takes responsibility for anything. In his life, everything ranging from assault to murder is justified by the business. Tony doesn't take responsibility for the air conditioner and denies that he is Kevin Finnerty - Tony will always deny his true identity and will never take responsibility for his crimes.

Yes, I agree mldetroit, and in the world of the Sopranos, dreams, afterlife, fate, relgion have a very significant power in the real world and in this case, Tony wasn't ready to give up on life in any circumstance.

Remember, Tony is a parasite, seemingly harmless, but extremely dangerous. If anything, the Monks represented a karmic presence, attempting to force Tony to take responsibility for the harm, pain, and anguish he's bestowed upon others. Buddhists believe in karma and re-incarnation, and instead of being the "Scorpion" as Tony openly admits in the Episode "Bust Out", he can perhaps pay pittance and redeem himself before it is too late. Maybe he can really become a regular salesman and not a crime lord on the next go around.

That is where the suitcase comes into play, his subconscious, soul, ego, etc. wasn't ready to part into the unknown with his "cousin". Again, we are seeing Tony is irrecoverably a damaged soul and is beyond saving.

We can go back towards the end of Season 5 with the episode "Test Dream" where he fails to do the right thing (ie turning over Blundetto to NY). Ultimately those chain of events with Blundetto's actions will cost him his life and many of those in his "Family" in Season 6.

It isn't even just Tony who knows he is damaged, but the rest of the guys believe they are damned or at least not meeting the Big Guy right away when they die:

Chrissy: "My Uncle Tony, that's who I'm going to hell for"
Paulie: "I figure I have to do a couple thousand years in Purgatory"

The Karmic aspect, or at least Newtonian Laws operate very well within the universe of The Sopranos, every action has an opposite and equal reaction, albeit delayed at times.

Nino - When Blundetto is inviting Tony into that house but Tony refuses, and refuses to part with his briefcase, is that symbolic of Tony's inability to part with his identity (that of a parasite, the scorpion)?

Was that his chance to take on a new identity (become Finnerty), and become a new, normal guy that does not take advantage of others? (perhaps this does not make sense because Finnerty ripped off the monks, so "Finnerty" was not necessarily a good guy either)

mldetroit,
Your post...it is at tree o'clock

Yes, Blundetto also represents Tony's aversion to doing the right thing, be it in his OC life or just in general. Ultimately it ties into his parasitic nature.

Finnerty, Soprano, Petrilio(identity he used at the hotel), doesn't matter, quite literally and spiritually he was "born into this"...As he faced death in the spirit world and in the ER, he still refused to let go of his "business".

No, that was him fighting for his life.

If he would have went into that house he would have died, that is why meadows voice pulled him back.